Wire fence.



PATENTED JULY 17,- 1906.

. S. MAHAFPY.

WIRE FENCE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.16. 1904.

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WIRE FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed August 16, 1904. Serial No. 220.904.

To all 2071,0711 it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MAHAFFY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Fences, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates generally to wire fences, but more particularly to a fence-post and slack-take-up for the linewires.

The invention consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar formation of the post and in the peculiar construction of the slack-takeup devices, and, further, in various details of construction, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire fence, showing the application of the post and stay. Figs. 2 and 3 are views in front elevation of one of the slack-take-up devices, showing the same respectively in its normal and eX- panded positions. Figs. 4 and 5 are views in side elevation of the slack-take-up device. Figs. 6 and 7 are sections taken, respectively, on lines 8 8 and 9 9 of Fig. 1.

A designates my improved post, preferably formed of iron, which is of angular cross-section and is provided at its lower end with an anchor of any suitable construction. Upon one side of the post is arranged a series of wire-retaining devices which are preferably in the form of lugs struck out from the body of the posts. In applying the line-wires to the posts the wires are drawn taut between the lugs and the body of the post, and the lugs are then bent inwardly to clamp the wires to the posts to prevent longitudinal movement thereof.

F represents my improved slack-take-up device, a number of which are ordinarily applied to the line-wires of the fence intermediate adjoining posts to automatically take up the slack and keep the fence-wires taut. I have shown one form of take-up device which I deem preferable in use; but itwill be obvious after noting its construction that it is susceptible of various modifications. As illustrated, this slack-take-up is in the form of a flat pliable spring-bar having preferably a number of undulations formed in it, as indicated in Fig. 1 by the dotted lines, this curve shape being its normal form. A vertical series of lugs are provided for each bar, which are preferably made by stamping out a small portion of the metal and simultaneously with the stamping bending said lugs into substantially the form of an in, the ver tically-extending portion of whichis of curved cross-section, thus forming in each instance two gripping edges adapted to contact with the line-wires when 'said lugs are bent in wardly to engage the line-wires. The lugs appear alternately on opposite sides of the bar, and the upper lugs a are turned downwardly in a direction opposite to the lower lugs 1). Further, the distance between each adjoining pair of lugs on the bar is less than the distance between corresponding lugs on the post.

In practice before the fence-wires are drawn taut the slack-take-up devices are applied in the mannerillustrated. As the wires are tightened the spring-bars are caused to elongate, as indicated by the full lines in. Fig. 1, the bar being forced substantially into a single vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 7. As the fence-wires eventually sag, the tension upon the bars is relieved, and the latter tend to assume their normal position, thereby drawing alternate wires toward each other and automatically making them taut.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a wire fence, the combination with the posts carryin line-wires, of an automatically-operating sIacltal:e-up device for said wires comprising an undulatory spring-bar arranged transversely of the line-wires and secured thereto imder tension. 2. In a wire fence, the combination with the posts carrying line-wires, of an undulatory spring-bar, and gripping means carried by the bar for engaging the line-wires, said. gripping devices being so spaced relative to the line-wires that the bar will be put under tension when secured, thereto.

3. In a wire fence, the combination with the posts carrying line-wires, of an undulatory spring-bar provided with a plurality of clamping-lugs struck up therefrom and adapted to engage the line-wires, the distance between said lugs being less than the distance between the line-wires with which they are adapted to engage, whereby said bar will be straightened out when the lugs are engaged with the line-wires, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a wire fence, the combination with the linewires, of a Hat spring-bar having a normal configuration arranged transversely of the line-wires and intermediate the ends thereof provided with gripping devices engaging with said line-wires, the distance between the gripping devices being diflerent from the distance between the line-wires with which they are adapted to engage, whereby the configuration of the bar will be changed and the same put under tension when secured to line-wires.

5. In a wire fence, the combination with three or more line-wires, of a flat springbar having a normal configuration arranged transversely of the line-wires provided with gripping devicesengaging said line-wires, the distance between the gripping devices being different from the distance between the linewires with which they are adapted to engage, whereby the configuration of the bar will be changed and the same put under tension when secured to said line-wires.

6. In a wire fence, the combination with the line-wires, of a slack-take-up device comprising a flat spring-bar arranged transversely of the line-wires and provided with gripping devices engaging said line-wires, the distance between the gripping devices being different from the distance between the line- Wires with which they are adapted to engage, whereby when said bar is secured to said linewires, portions thereof will be moved forv wardly and rearwardly with respect to the fence to place said bar under tension.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.WILLIAM S. MAI-IAFFY. I/Vitnesses'z HENRY LIETZ,

GEO. WV. STAIGER. 

